Charles C. Deam Wilderness, Indiana
Background: The United States Congress designated the Charles C. Deam Wilderness (CCDW) in 1982 and it now has a total of 12,945 acres. The entire Wilderness is in Indiana. Settlers first arrived in Indiana's only Wilderness in 1826. This was one of the last pieces of the state to have its steep hills and narrow ridge tops tamed by humans. As recently as half a century ago, 81 farms dotted the area, and every ridge was planted in corn or hay. Although the landscape still shows considerable evidence of human alterations, the Wilderness is slowly returning to its natural wild state. The Wilderness stands divided into a northern and smaller southern section by the Tower Ridge Road, and the right-of-way of this road remains non-Wilderness. The 2004 NVUM study concluded that the CCDW has 18,382 visits. By far, the majority of this use is day use. The average length of stay in 7.6 hours in the CCDW. There are 40 miles of trails in a designated trail system.
Impact type: recreation livestock impacts
Strategies: LAC campsite and trail inventory and monitoring, campsite rehabilitation, user fees, law enforcement
What we did. Describe your over all program (how overall problems are being dealt with). Describe specific tactic.
In 1993, Wilderness managers initiated the LAC process. According to Wilderness managers, the Charles Deam Wilderness (CCDW) was not being managed “as a Wilderness.” At the time, there were 69 areas to access the CCDW and 109 miles of trail. There was a large horse camp being used as a party spot with resulting noise and inappropriate behaviors.
A LAC task force was created with representatives from a wide spectrum of user groups including hikers, stock users, hunters, berry pickers, and others. The overarching question the task force took on was how to restore Wilderness conditions in the CCDW. The biggest issues of concern were campsites, trails, and access. Recommendations were made to reduce 69 access points down to 5; modify a 10- acre stock area by fencing the perimeter, reducing the area to half the size, and fencing enclosures to reduce the area size and number of people. The other 64 access points were located along an access road for locals that bisects the Wilderness. Parking barriers were put in and a special order was enacted to prohibit parking along the road. Forest Service managers recommended reducing the existing 109 miles of trails to 60 miles however; task group ultimately recommended a reduction to 40 miles of trails. Five miles of the trail system area are managed for hiker-only travel. While hikers want more hiker-only trails designated, there were no complaints from stock users for additional trail mileage.
Stock users are supportive of a designated trail system and understand why cross-country travel is restricted (to protect soils and prevent erosion). Some descendants of families who homesteaded in the area during the late 1800’s still think the area still belongs to them and don’t care about Wilderness designation (also some locals, who are not necessarily descendants of families who homesteaded the area, who don’t want the Forest Service to tell them where they can and cant go). There are historic cemeteries within the CCDW so the managers are required to maintain one trail to accommodate hearses. There are three other cemeteries the Forest Service may allow motorized use to when the family requests, if conditions allow. However, these trails are not maintained to “vehicle standards”. Overall, this is a small portion of the trail system in the wilderness, about 5 miles total). A letter of authorization from the Forest Supervisor is required for motorized or stock access to reach the cemeteries.
The Hoosier National Forest is the only National Forest in Region 9 that has a mule string used to do trail relocation work with traditional tools. They are working to get trails up to standards identified in the LAC process. In the past 12 years there have been significant changes in the CCDW regarding trail and campsite management. The local Backcountry Horsemen (BCH) chapter volunteers 4-6 work days each year. Wilderness managers have an annual meeting with the BCH to update them on wilderness projects.
There is a user fee charged to stock groups and mountain bikers as part of the fee demo program forest-wide. Money generated from user fees goes back into maintaining the trail system. At first visitors were hesitant to accept the user fee program but are now supportive because they can see the number of improvements made. Permits are sold on the forest and through 35 vendors. The fee is $3 per day or $25 per season.
Law enforcement was used at the large horse camp to enforce quiet hours and to get a handle on inappropriate behavior. Visitor group size is limited to 10 people but there is no limit on stock sizes. The CCDW is primarily a day use area for stock with some backpacker overnight camping. Most stock parties camp at the campground and take day rides.
120 campsites were identified in the initial LAC inventory. In 2004 campsites were re-inventoried, located with GPS, photographed, and condition classes were determined. 73 campsites were identified in the re-inventory process and 20 of the 73 campsites have been rehabilitated.
Why we did it?
Recommendations from the LAC Task Force determined that there were too many access points and the existing trail system was too big to maintain without further damage to soils and impacts to Wilderness resources.
How well did it work?
At first the reduction of access from 69 to 5 points didn’t go over very well with visitors. Managers provided good reasoning behind the reduction of access points to protect the Wilderness resource and stuck with it until the public began to understand and support the management strategy.
There were some complaints initially from descendants of families who homesteaded in the area regarding the required use of the designated trail system.
How did you evaluate it?
Vehicle and user group counts are done to determine use.
Citations are written for illegal off trail use.
Managers evaluate how well the trails are holding up to visitor use.
Permit compliance checks are routinely done. The compliance rate is approximately 94%.
What is the level of public acceptance?
See discussion under “How well did it work.”
What did NOT work?
It has been a challenge to get locals to understand the concept of Wilderness. The Hoosier National Forest has an “identity crisis.” Many visitors confuse the National Forest with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Education and interpretation efforts have been stepped up, especially wilderness education, to scout groups, school groups, and getting into the community to connect with the locals. It is a challenge to educate the descendants of families who used to own the land and they think they can go anywhere.
What would you do differently next time? What did you do that you wish you had not done?
Managers needed to better identify and inventory old roadbeds that were created in the late 1800’s and later became part of the trail system. These old roads were poorly located in steep terrain, wet areas, and low spots with poor drainage. Extensive re-routing is being done to get trails out of these areas and up to standard. Designating a trail system and locating the best place for trails is essential to offset problems previously described.
Any unexpected effects?
No.
Tips
Always hold true to mandates within the Wilderness Act and stand behind it to make management decisions that protect the Wilderness resource. The anger and backlash will go away and eventually the public will support management decisions. You are not going to please all the people all the time.
You need people on the ground to do the work to inventory and monitor campsites, do campsite rehabilitation, and maintain the trail system
Contacts—for further information and resources
Eric Sandeno, Outdoor Recreation Planner
Region 9, Hoosier National Forest
Phone: 812-276-4721
E-mail:
Fax
Office